Batting

FLORENCE, S.C. – The Georgia College softball team (15-34) rallied to take their Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Tournament opening round matchup against No. 3-seed Columbus State University 3-1, before dropping their second game 4-2 to No. 2-seed Armstrong Atlantic Friday.

The Bobcats used a superb pitching performance from righty Sabrina Chandler (Covington, Ga.) to propel past No. 3-seed Columbus State (36-15). Chandler went all seven innings, giving up only one run while scattering four hits.

Junior catcher Anna Parker (Columbus, Ga.) ensured her teammate's pitching effort would not be wasted, belting a two-RBI double to right-center in the top of the fifth inning.

GC added an insurance run in the top of the sixth, as Brandie Monroe (Savannah, Ga.) touched home on a fielder's choice from Corby Holmes (Social Circle, Ga.), making the score 3-1.

The Bobcats got out to a quick lead in game two against No. 2-seed Armstrong Atlantic (30-10), with Monroe scoring once again after singling to lead-off the inning.

Unfortunately, Armstrong Atlantic was able to capitalize on a pair of Georgia College errors, plating three in the bottom of the fifth.

With the Pirates clinging to a 4-1 lead, GC first baseman Shahlisa Shirley (Winter Garden, Fla.) would make things a little more interesting as she blasted a solo home run to left field in the top of the sixth, closing the gap to 4-2. Shirley couldn't have chosen a better time for her first Division II home run.

The Bobcats would put two runners on in the top of the seventh, but Pirate pitcher Megan Barnwell would get a crucial strikeout to end the game.

Georgia College will head to the loser's bracket tomorrow, facing-off against No. 5-seed Augusta State University at 9 a.m.

The Bobcats split the season series with the Jaguars, winning the first matchup 3-2 before falling 4-2.

Be sure to tune in towww.PennAtlantic.comfor continuing broadcast coverage of the Bobcats run at the PBC Tournament. Live broadcast will begin at 8:55 a.m. tomorrow morning.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, back-to-back winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at www.twitter.com/BobcatSports and www.facebook.com/gcbobcats for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCBobcats.com for more information, and to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GC Athletics Hall of Fame.